Donald Leroy “Puddin” Rice, the son of Frank J. and Esther (Leckron) Rice was born in the rural Bantry, North Dakota home of his parents on November 29, 1940.  He died at the age of 72 years on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at the Trinity Medical Center in Minot, North Dakota.

Donny was raised in the Layton Township, McHenry County home of his parents, was baptized at the Bloomfield Lutheran Church in Upham and received his education in Layton Township School.  He worked on the family farm and for the Thompson-Christianson Ranch for several years until being inducted into the U.S. Army in the early 1960’s.   He was given an honorable hardship discharge after serving 18 months to return to the family ranch and farm as his father had become disabled.   He has made his home, owned and operated the ranch ever since.  Early in his youth, he was fondly nicknamed “Rice Puddin” and later the name shortened to “Puddin”.  Donny loved the ranch and farm life and took great pride in its operation.  He also was a sort of jack of all trades and could repair almost anything  brought to him . . . and it stayed repaired!  In his eyes, like Henry Ford, you could have any color as long as it was red.  He was a member of the Ranchers Scale and enjoyed shooting the bull with friends and family.

Survivors include one sister, Sharon (James) Jansky of Towner; three brothers, Eugene “Gene”, Gary and David, all of Towner;  nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Delores Jones; a niece, Linda Jones; a nephew, Larry Jones; and one sister-in-law, Mary Rice.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 10^th at New Hope Lutheran Church in Upham due to construction at the Zion Lutheran Church in Towner.  Burial will be in the Union Cemetery in Towner at 4:30 p.m.  Pastor Linda Wimmer, officiating.

Visitation: will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Towner. Reviewal will be held in the church for one hour prior to the time of services.